Toilet bowl and method for manufacturing such a bowl

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bowl ( 1 ) for a toilet, at least comprising an outer shell ( 2 ) and a water-guiding inner part ( 3 ), wherein water is supplied regularly to the inner part ( 3 ) when the bowl is used as intended, wherein the outer shell ( 2 ) comprises exclusively the non-water-guiding part of the bowl ( 1 ) and wherein the outer shell ( 2 ) consists of a cast mineral material and the inner part ( 3 ) consists of a different material. Also disclosed is a method for producing a bowl.

The invention relates to a bowl, in particular for a toilet (including also a urinal or the like) and a method for manufacturing such a bowl.

In the recent past, there has been a great increase of washbasins, bathtubs and shower trays made using mineral casting. Today, bowls for toilets, urinals and the like cannot be made from this material because it is not sufficiently resistant to chemicals and/or resistant to abrasion.

It is the object of this invention to at least partially solve the issues indicated with reference to the prior art. Proposed in particular is a bowl for a toilet, for which, nevertheless, a mineral casting is used. Further proposed is a method for manufacturing a bowl comprising the mineral casting material.

A bowl with the features according to claim 1 and a method using the features according to claim 5 contribute to said object. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in a technologically useful manner and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and/or details from the figures, wherein further embodiment variants of the invention are identified.

A bowl is proposed, in particular for toilets, urinals, etc., comprising at least an outer skin and a water-bearing inner part, wherein the inner part is regularly exposed to water during intended use. The outer skin comprises only the non-water-bearing part of the bowl, wherein the outer skin consists of a mineral casting material and the inner part consists of a different material (not a mineral casting material).

In particular, a hybrid bowl is proposed, made of different materials, each material being provided for different areas of the bowl, based on its properties.

A (toilet) bowl is regularly supplied with water via a water inlet (connected, for instance, to a cistern or pressure pipe). Further, a drain is provided, through which, among other things, the water from the bowl can be transferred to a sewer. The water inlet and outlet are by default interconnected via the water-bearing inner part of the bowl.

In this respect, the term “bowl” refers in particular to the so-called “ceramic” of a toilet, a urinal, etc.

In particular, (only) the outer skin (generally) consists of the mineral casting material.

Mineral casting is in particular a material that consists of mineral fillers, e.g. quartz gravel, quartz sand and/or powdered rock, and a small amount of epoxy binder material.

The materials are mixed together and, depending on the production process, cast as a homogeneous mass, e.g. cold (ambient temperature, i.e. not heated) in molds, e.g. made of wood, steel or plastic. During the casting process, the casting mold can be moved, e.g. shaken, to compact the mixture and remove air bubbles from it. After a few hours, the part can be demolded and is ready for assembly. The material is also known as polymer concrete or reactive resin concrete.

In particular, a mineral casting material has some advantages over ceramic, which is normally used for toilet bowls. In particular, the use of mineral casting permits not only smaller radii but smaller tolerances can also be realized, and the integration of electrical or mechanical components and connection points can be implemented. Furthermore, by manufacturing the outer skin from this material, a uniform or harmonious design of different sanitary equipment, such as washbasins, shower trays, bathtubs, etc., can be achieved.

In ceramics, for instance, it is not possible to integrate components (prior to firing the ceramic) (e.g. due to the high temperatures during firing). Further, this avoids the high degree of shrinkage of the ceramic, which is due to its manufacturing process.

In particular, the inner part is made of a ceramic material.

For the proposed bowl, the high degree of hardness and the hygienic properties of a ceramic material are utilized, especially for the inner part, while for the outer part the advantages of the mineral casting material, i.e. the low shrinkage, guaranteed tight tolerances, a flat surface, the possibility of small radii, are utilized.

In particular, the outer skin and the inner part are interconnected at least (or exclusively) through an adhesive bond.

The outer skin and the inner part can (alternatively) be interconnected at least by a screw connection, a clamping connection or a clip connection.

In particular, the connection is arranged in a (usually) non-visible area of the bowl, e.g., at the upper edge of an interior of the bowl. In particular, the connection is located in an area of the bowl that is not exposed to liquid (when used as intended).

Preferably, the connection is designed to be liquid-tight. However, it is also possible that the connection is not designed to be liquid-tight but, for instance, is only designed to be liquid-tight against splash water.

A method for manufacturing a bowl, in particular the bowl previously described, is proposed. The bowl has at least an outer skin and a water-bearing inner part, the inner part being regularly exposed to water during intended use, the outer skin comprising exclusively the non-water-bearing part of the bowl. The method comprises at least the process steps outlined below:

-   -   a) provision of the outer skin, wherein the outer skin is made         of a mineral casting material;     -   b) provision of the inner part, wherein the inner part is made         of a different material than the outer skin;     -   c) connection of the outer skin and the inner part to form a         bowl.

In particular, the inner part is made of a ceramic material. In particular, the connection process comprises adhesive bonding.

In particular, the connection process comprises bolting, clamping, or clipping.

The explanation regarding the process can, in particular, be transferred to the bowl and vice versa.

Preferred is a use of the bowl proposed herein for holding human body waste, in particular urine.

If a dependency and/or sequence is required, this is explicitly stated here or it is obvious to the person skilled in the art when studying the specific embodiment described. Insofar as a component may occur more than once (“at least one”), the description for one of these components may apply equally to all or a part of the majority of these components, but this is not mandatory.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures attached. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be restricted by the cited exemplary embodiments. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in the Figures and combine them with other components and findings from this description. In particular, it should be noted that the Figures and in particular the proportions shown are only schematic. In the Figures:

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of a bowl in cross-section; and

FIG. 2 shows a method for manufacturing a bowl.

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of a bowl 1 in cross-section. FIG. 2 shows a method for manufacturing a bowl 1. FIGS. 1 and 2 are described together below.

The bowl 1 has an outer skin 2 and a water-bearing inner part 3, the inner part 3 being regularly exposed to water during its intended use. The outer skin 2 comprises only the non-water-bearing part of the bowl 1, wherein the outer skin 2 is made of a mineral casting material and the inner part 3 is made of another material (not a mineral casting material).

The bowl 1 is supplied with water via a water inlet 5 (connected, for instance, to a cistern or a pressure line)

Further, a drain 6 is provided, through which, among other things, the water from the bowl 1 can be transferred to a sewer. The water inlet 5 and the water outlet 6 are interconnected via the water-bearing inner part 5 of the bowl 1.

The outer skin 2 and the inner part 5 are interconnected exclusively via a (in this case: adhesive) bond 4.

The connection 4 is arranged in a (usually) non-visible area of the bowl 1, in this case at the upper edge of an interior space of the bowl 1.

According to step a), the method for manufacturing a bowl comprises the provision of the outer skin 2, wherein the outer skin 2 is made of a mineral casting material. According to step b), the inner part 3 is provided, wherein the inner part 3 is made of a different material than the outer skin 2. According to step c), the connection 4 is used to connect the outer skin 2 to the inner part 3 to form a bowl 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Bowl     -   2 outer skin     -   3 interior     -   4 connection     -   5 water inlet     -   6 drain 

1. A bowl (1) for a toilet, at least comprising an outer skin (2) and a water-bearing inner part (3), wherein the inner part (3) is regularly exposed to water during its intended use, wherein the outer skin (2) comprises only the non-water-bearing part of the bowl (1), wherein the outer skin (2) consists of a mineral casting material and the inner part (5) consists of different material.
 2. The bowl (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner part (3) consists of a ceramic material.
 3. The bowl (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer skin (2) and the inner part (3) are interconnected through an adhesive bond (4).
 4. The bowl (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer skin (2) and the inner part (5) are interconnected at least by a screw connection, a clamping connection or a clip connection.
 5. A method for manufacturing a bowl (1) for a toilet, wherein the bowl (1) has at least an outer skin (2) and a water-bearing inner part (3), wherein the inner part (3) is regularly exposed to water during its intended use, wherein the outer skin (2) comprises exclusively the non-water-bearing part of the bowl (1), wherein the method comprises at least the steps outlined below: a) provision of the outer skin (2), wherein the outer skin (2) is made of a mineral casting material; b) provision of the inner part (3), wherein the inner part is made of a different material than the outer skin (2); c) connection of the outer skin (2) and the inner part (3) to form a bowl.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the inner part (3) consists of a ceramic material.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the joining comprises adhesive bonding.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the joining comprises screwing, clamping or clipping. 